MaXXXine

Released: 2024

Directed By: Ti West

Runtime: 104 min

Ti West has solidified a name for himself in horror over the last few years with X (2022) and the fast follow up prequel Pearl (2022).

In a genre where it takes a lot to surprise an audience, West pulled it off with his sneaky reveal that Pearl was actually filmed alongside X (close to our hearts in the Whanganui area of New Zealand), and would be released within the same year.

For those of us here in Aotearoa, cinemas and distributors fought to screen these two films filmed on our shores, and when Kiwis finally got to watch them, it was hard for us not to hold them in a special light.

Now, a couple years on, the much-anticiapted finale of the West Trilogy has finally arrived: MaXXXine.

So how does it stack up to its much-loved predecessors?

One thing is certain, following up two heavy horror hitters was always going to be tough. Audience expectations are high. We’ve grown attached to the series and we want to see what’s become of Maxine Minx. We know she’s a survivor, and we want to see what she has to do to become a star in 1980s Los Angeles.

On that front, West has absolutely delivered the grit and grime of the 80s, mixing in a bit of camp to really make it stick. He plops us into the thick of the Neon Era and, right from the start, we’re immersed in a decade of drugs, sex, serial killers, and not giving a fuck. The fact that’s it’s all set to a banger soundtrack is icing on the cake.

But even with all the cocaine highs, and sleazy porn shops, it’s hard not to feel like Maxine Minx was cheated of her stardom. The rough ambiance swallows her up, robbing her of her shine. 

Aside from a couple over-the-top outbursts, the ruthless Maxine we’re promised never rises to her full glory. Even the film’s chaotic ending fails to give her a proper send-off, becoming a backup to a bunch of quickly dispatched secondary characters.

In contrast to X and Pearl, MaXXXine falls way short on the horror. It stumbles into cop procedural territory rather than a fucked up horror picture. Even with some seriously grotesque practical gore, one in particular that will see every man in the audience crossing his legs, this final entry in the series was short on X factor.

MaXXXine still makes for an enjoyable watch, and it’s probably not fair to compare it so closely to its predecessors. If you’re already a fan then it’s a must-watch, and if you haven’t seen the others, then it’s still a must-watch. I mean, it’s worth it just for the music alone. 

You can always wait for streaming, but seeing it in the cinema helps support horror on the big screen, and keeps these movies coming to NZ. Something we all want more of!

Final score:

2.5 bloody VHS tapes out of 5